Learn, have fun and change a life!

﻿Sponsor a child in Mongolia with the Christina Noble Children's Foundation

Sponsoring a child is
fun, rewarding and simple..In fact, it couldn’t
be easier!All you need is the
will to be part of something special, so if you’re on this page you’re already
halfway there!﻿

Thank You for considering sponsoring a child with CNCF Mongolia!

Why sponsor a child in Mongolia?

Mongolia is one of the poorest countries in the world and a land like no other. Its capital, Ulaanbaatar, is the coldest capital city in the world with temperatures occasionally reaching -40°C and sometimes dropping to an unimaginable -50°.

The traditional Mongolian way of life is nomadic with families travelling from place to place as the seasons change, moving to areas that best suit their grazing animals. A family can pack up their yurt home (called a ger in Mongolian), pack it on the backs of their horses (or sometimes camels) together with all their belongings, and be living in new area 50-100km away by the end of the day.

In recent years, things have changed a lot and Mongolia is feeling the effects of globalization. The nomadic life is fading quickly and many families are struggling to make the transition to the new ways. The fast moving Mongolian economy is leaving many, many families behind and the wealth gap is widening at an alarming rate.

With knowledge of only traditional skills in a changing world, many good, hard-working families are left forgotten, and now over 30% of Mongolia’s families live in extreme poverty with very few options.

Dressed up nice and snug for winter!

The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation is dedicated to breaking this cycle of poverty by caring for these families forgotten by society, and providing the opportunity for financial support, health care and education.

Since beginning operations in Mongolia in 1997, the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation Child Sponsorship Programme has supported nearly 6,000 children, many of who now have young families of their own and are living as happy, educated and confident adults.

Mongolian fact:A traditional Mongolian home is called a ger, and is made from wood and sheep’s wool.It is designed for the nomadic life and can all fit on the back of a camel.

What is a Sponsor?

A sponsor is a person or group of people who bring a big ray of sunshine into the life of a child in need. By giving as little as £20 a month you can change a child’s world by giving them access to basic nutrition, proper healthcare, education and vocational training, not to mention one of the greatest things a person can have… a friend!

How Does it Work?

Enter your school’s name and contact details here to register your interest and receive a full information pack.(there is no commitment):

Child Sponsorship Resource Pack 'Making the Most of Your Sponsorship In Your School': Including Sample Child Sponsorship Lesson Plan & Ideas For Writing a Group Letter, designed by an experienced Head of Department.

Application/ Standing Order Form and...

Mongolia Education Pack: Including Information about Mongolia and an Interview with Urangoo!

Two cheeky chappies peeking out of their ger

Have a look through the pack and then when you’re ready, simply return the Application Form to our UK office (the return address will be included on the form). Once we have received your class’s application you will be sent a Welcome Pack including the Profile of a child in Mongolia who is in need of your support. The Profile will include all the information your class will need to learn about the child and understand their background, and therefore begin to build a friendly and educational relationship with them. We will do our very best to match the child’s age with your students in order to encourage the most lively global discussion!

﻿What Will We Receive?﻿

Paintings ready to be sent!

Each class will receive an Annual Report from our Child Sponsorship Team updating you with the progress your sponsored child has made throughout the year. The volume of interaction your class has with your sponsored child outside of this is to a large extent up to you. In this way your sponsorship experience becomes unique to your class and can be tailored to fit around your project needs.

As letters have to be translated both ways (from English into Mongolian, and from Mongolian into English) and also have to be transported to and from the children – which is not always easy in rural Mongolia(!), there is sometimes a time gap of a month or two between replies.We’ve found that most classes like to send and receive a letter each term, and this works well. Letters will often include photos of the child’s family, their home (a traditional Mongolian yurt, called a ger), and maybe a drawing or painting. Sometimes the child may send small gifts or traditional Mongolian trinkets to your class, although this is the choice of the child and their family so cannot be guaranteed.

﻿Can We Send Other Things With Our Letter?﻿

Yes! The children love to receive photos, drawings and gifts and this is also a great way to enhance your sponsorship project.

Where Do We Send Our Letters?

All letters, photos, drawings and gifts should be sent to our office in London. From there they will either be sent out in our quarterly shipment or alternatively, to speed things up and if there are no physical items, you can scan and email them over to us and we will then forward everything on to our operational office in Mongolia. We will always do our very best to get your letters sent and returned as quickly as possible!

Can We Send as Many Letters as We Like?

The children love receiving letters and we welcome letters from your class, however we would ask that these are not sent too frequently, due to the time-consuming nature of translation. Any pieces of art work, photos or gifts can be sent to our office as often as you like, however please be aware that we will only be able to send these items over once every three months in our quarterly shipment. If you’re happy to scan things over to us we will forward them on as soon as possible.

Do We Have a Responsibility to Send Letters?

No, none at all. The level of correspondence your class has with your child is your decision, and there is certainly no requirement for your class to send letters. Of course, sending and receiving letters is a great way to enrich the experience of sponsoring a child as it is often a very rewarding process, however we know from firsthand experience that teaching a class of children can be a very demanding task(!) so there is certainly no expectation for letters. The Bonus Item Ideas For Writing a Group Letter, which has been written by an experienced Head of English teacher, is included in the Information Pack.

How Will We Understand Each Other’s Letters?

﻿Don’t worry, you won’t have to learn to speak Mongolian! All letters will be translated by one of our team before they reach their final destination. Sometimes, some of the older children may write to you in English if they want to practice.

Mongolian fact:The Mongolian language uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which is also used by the Russian language. ‘Mongolia’ written in Mongolian Cyrillic is: “Монгол”

Can Our Class Sponsor More Than One Child?

Yes, definitely! This is a great way to expand your project and will give an even deeper understanding of different families and living conditions in Mongolia. It also means your class is helping even more children in need, which is truly fantastic.

Many schools sponsor one child per class, some classes sponsor two children, and in some schools just a few classes may sponsor children. In a few cases a child may be sponsored by a school as a whole, although this is far less common. However many children your classes or school would like to sponsor, everything is greatly received and every single sponsorship makes a genuine difference to the life of a child.

Happy children at summer camp :)

How is Sponsorship Paid?

The sponsorship of £20 a month can be paid however suits you best, either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. All payments are processed through our office in London, and our staff are always on hand to support and assist you. How your class raises the sponsorship money is your choice, with funds either being paid as a donation from your school or raised by your children as part of project. Some classes have their students contribute £1 each a month, some classes do one fundraising day a year, and some schools just donate from their annual budgets. It really is up to you and whatever works best for your children and school! Just let us know your preferences on the Application Form, which will be sent as part of our Information Pack, and our staff team in London will be happy to help.

Mongolian Fact:The Mongolian currency is called the “tögrög,” which literally means ‘round’ – used originally to describe the first coins. All Mongolian currency these days is notes, but the traditional description of ‘round’ still remains.

How Long Does Sponsorship Last?

Sponsorship continues for as long as the child remains in the Foundation’s Child Sponsorship Programme or until the sponsor wishes to withdraw. In the case of a sponsor withdrawing their support, we kindly ask for three months’ notice as this provides the Sponsorship Team with adequate time to assess the ongoing needs of the child and identify a new sponsor if required. When an older child completes their education and is able to become self-supporting, or a child leaves the program for any other reason, the sponsor is offered another child to assist.

How Are the Annual Reports Sent Out?

Annual Reports are sent regularly by email or post on the anniversary the sponsorship began.

How Can My Class Get the Most Out of Sponsoring a Child?

Sponsoring a child can be a simple act of class kindness that teaches your children about the importance of showing consideration and compassion to others, or it can form the basis of a much more in-depth project. Either way the benefits of involving your class in charitable giving are numerous and can create a lasting impression on your children’s lives. To get the most out of sponsoring a child we believe that it’s best to view the sponsorship programme as an interactive platform which allows you to explore what are sometimes difficult concepts and ideas with your children. Sponsoring a child not only opens up the floor for rich, interesting and in-depth classroom discussion,it also grounds your students with a much deeper understanding ofhow life is for other people living in a very different part of the world. Learning about your sponsored child’s day-to-day life will often help your students truly grasp the meaning and significance of issues that are otherwise only talked about. For example, it is much easier for a child to comprehend and really FEEL the reality of life in Mongolia when they are communicating with, learning about, and are friends with someone who is living in conditions that perhaps here in the UK we may not have even considered. It is also often much easier for us to understand our own cultural identity, once we have a point of comparison.

Sponsoring a child in Mongolia is a cultural experience like no other, and the closet your children can get to the Mongolian steppe without leaving the classroom!

What Does the Sponsorship Money Pay For?

Every month your sponsored child will receive your funding equivalent in local Mongolian currency, called the “Mongolian tögrög.” These funds will provide your sponsored child with crucial assistance to cover their education needs (such as stationary, uniform, and travel to and from school), basic nutrition, coal and firewood during winter (it often gets down to -40°C in Mongolia!) and primary healthcare – something we consider as basic rights for all, but which is only a dream for many children in Mongolia.

For the vast majority of children on the Sponsorship Programme this monthly support is often the difference between attending school and receiving an education, or not. These monthly sponsorship donations have been a lifeline for nearly six thousand children since the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation first started the programme in 1997.

Sponsored children with coal in preparation
for the cold winter.

A sponsored child with his family, with much-needed items sponsorship money.

In preparation for the cold winter with new clothes.

How Else Are the Children Supported?

In addition to receiving financial support from individual donors and groups around the world, the children and their families are supported by our Child Sponsorship Team in Mongolia, which includes four fully qualified social workers. The social workers see most of the children each month at distribution day, where the children and their families receive their sponsorship money. During distribution day the social workers speak with the children and the families to monitor progress at home and school, and any other areas where they may need support. The children and any member of the family can also see the Foundation doctor if required. Distribution day is also when any letters, photos, gifts, drawings etc. are exchanged.

Children receiving gifts at distribution day.

Mongolian FactThe most famous Mongol is Genghis Khan, who founded the largest continuous land empire in history. At its peak the Mongolian Empire stretched all the way from Korea to Hungary, with a landmass of 12.74 million square miles!

How Else Will Our School Be Supported?

Fiona and Anna at our London office.

Our friendly Child Sponsorship and Community Team in our London office are always on hand to support and assist you!Fiona and Anna are very experienced members of staff and will be able to answer any questions you have. They can help support your school’s projects with additional resources, or do their very best to accommodate you if you have any special requests.

As a Child Sponsor based in the UK, Fiona and Anna will be your first point of contact. Please feel free to call them at any time on 020 7381 8550 and they will be very happy to speak with you.The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation has helped to support nearly 10,000* underprivileged, abandoned, and orphaned children in Mongolia! It is only with the continued help and support of people like yourself that we can continue this important work!

Meet a Sponsored Child: Arsian

(The name of the child has been altered to protect their identity)

Arsian been sponsored by a UK family since May 2007. She lives in a ger (traditional Mongolian yurt) with her mother and two younger sisters. Sadly, her father passed away due to illness when she was a baby. Because Arsian’s mother has to look after her younger sisters, she cannot work and finds it difficult to support the family. Arsian did not go to school between the ages of 5-7 as her mother could not afford the bus fare into town. Since beginning to receive her monthly sponsorship, Arsian is now able to go to school where she is studying well and has also been learning judo and sambo wrestling. She is now 14 years old and has received many academic awards, and is also a judo champion!

School Testimonial...

“The students of our school have proudly sponsored the education of CNCF children in Mongolia since 1998. The good management of the programme, with regular reports, has made it a rewarding and reliable fundraising experience for our students. To know that they have made a difference in the lives of other students is an important truth." -Howard West, Assistant Principal

Get involved!

Download our free Child Sponsorship information pack now, and learn more about how you can make a genuine difference to a child in Mongolia!

Child Sponsorship Resource Pack 'Making the Most of Your Sponsorship In Your School': Including Sample Child Sponsorship Lesson Plan & Ideas For Writing a Group Letter, designed by an experienced Head of Department.

Application/ Standing Order Form and...

Mongolia Education Pack: Including Information about Mongolia and an Interview with Urangoo!

Sponsoring a child in Mongolia is a fun, engaging, education, and worthwhile opportunity for your students!

How to Make the Most of Your Sponsorship Experience

Topics to explore for engaging class discussion:

1. Identity

What does Identity mean to you?

What are the different aspects of identity?

What is cultural identity?

What parts of your identity do you share with you sponsor child?

How do you differ, and how are you the same?

2. Poverty and Inequality

What is ‘being poor’?

Is poverty in the UK different from world poverty?

Is inequality unavoidable, or can it be ‘solved’?

Could you live in the same conditions as your sponsored child?

How do you think they would feel if they came to live in this country?

How would you both feel if you swapped lives for a week, or a year?

3. Human Rights

What are they?

Who protects them?

Can they be taken away?

Why are they important?

4. Charity

Should we help others?

Are our personal needs more important?

Why should we care for children on the other side of the world?

What difference does it make, anyway?

What does giving to others give to you?

How can we make a difference in other areas of our lives?

Suggested Fun Activities!

Get your students to draw themselves, incorporating colours and images into the picture that they feel will convey their identity to your sponsor child.

Write an imaginative story entitled ‘A Day in my Life!’

Organise an event such as a coffee and cakemorning to raise awareness and additional funds for your sponsor child, or other children in need.

Do a class photo project about ‘Life in England’, taking snaps of all things British (the red post box, a cup of tea, and let’s not forget crumpets!)

Mongolian Fact: Mongolians love to cut the fat off their meat and add it to their tea! It’s called “oots.”

Get involved!

By opening a line of communication between your class and a child living in an entirely different culture, you are opening the door to a whole new world of learning and educational opportunities.

Download our free Child Sponsorship information pack now, and learn more about how you can make a genuine difference to a child in Mongolia!

Child Sponsorship Resource Pack 'Making the Most of Your Sponsorship In Your School': Including Sample Child Sponsorship Lesson Plan & Ideas For Writing a Group Letter, designed by an experienced Head of Department.

Application/ Standing Order Form and...

Mongolia Education Pack: Including Information about Mongolia and an Interview with Urangoo!

A Little Bit About Our Foundation...

Operating in Mongolia and Vietnam, the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation reaches children living in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable, often uncared for by anyone and exposed to threats no human being should ever have to face. By giving these beautiful little people a childhood that nurtures their mind, body and soul, our Foundation has positively changed the lives for hundreds and thousands of children, enabling them to break free from the cycle of poverty and permanently escape economic and sexual exploitation.

How We Are Different…

‘First youfeed a child’s stomach, and then you feed their spirit’– Christina Noble, founder

This holistic approach to childhood development is at the core of our work and inspires a depth to our care which goes beyond looking after basic physical requirements. Our programmes are designed to nurture all of our incredible little people in a way that recognizes them as individuals, with different needs, both physical and emotional, and with their own very special human spirits. This process of development is achieved within the context of the family and the community whenever possible and always with unconditional love for each child as an individual with absolute respect for their own free will.

Our Founder

‘I understand the depths of pain that a child feels, the breaking heart of a child and how precious childhood is.’– Christina Noble

Our Foundation’s founder, Christina Noble, is herself a former street child and understands all too well what it’s like growing up with no home, no family and no love.

After a childhood shaped by poverty, abandonment, family break-up, violence and institutional abuse, Christina’s own experience of pain and suffering has led her to a life fuelled by a passion for children’s rights, and a dedication to changing the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable.

It is without question Christina’s breathtaking courage, unbreakable spirit and boundless love for our world’s children that lies at the heart of our Foundation, and inspires the compassion that is at the core of all that we do.

With our most sincere gratitude, and on behalf of the underprivileged and at-risk children of Mongolia, we thank you for your support.

Child Sponsorship Resource Pack 'Making the Most of Your Sponsorship In Your School': Including Sample Child Sponsorship Lesson Plan & Ideas For Writing a Group Letter, designed by an experienced Head of Department.

Application/ Standing Order Form and...

Mongolia Education Pack: Including Information about Mongolia and an Interview with Urangoo!